Australian academic named ACCA president

AUSTRALIAN ACCOUNTANCY ACADEMIC Barry Cooper has been elected president of ACCA.

Cooper is head of the School of Accounting, Economics and Finance at Deakin University, Melbourne. He is the second ACCA president from outside the UK and Ireland, after Sam Wong’s term in 2003 where he was based in Hong Kong.

Cooper previously served as head of the accounting schools at the Hong Kong Polytechnic and RMIT University, Melbourne, and played a key role in establishing the ACCA qualification in China.

Cooper said: “I am honoured and delighted to have been elected as ACCA president. I look forward to playing my part in ensuring that ACCA continues to work closely with employers, and that we meet their needs in an increasingly global economy.

“I also look forward to meeting with as many members and students as possible, to ensure that we continue to prioritise the issues which are important to them, and to represent those views at a global level.”

Cooper moved to Deakin University in 2007, where he teaches and researches in the areas of auditing, professional ethics, corporate governance and accounting education. In his spare time, Barry is an organic olive oil grower and processor.

Management consultant Martin Turner is appointed deputy president. Turner, who has been chairman and chief executive of Hywel Dda Health Board and chief executive of the Central Northern Adelaide Health Service, has been a council member since 2004, and currently chairs ACCA’s remuneration committee.

Vice president for 2012/13 is Anthony Harbinson, who is director of justice delivery at the Department of Justice in Northern Ireland.